Electric switch



E. A. HAWTHORNE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. 1913.

1,304,564L, I Patented May 27, 1918,

' v llsworth eiflawi'horn ELLSWQRTH A. 'HAWTHCRNE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

aoasec.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed September 24, 1913. Serial No. 791,676.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ennswonrn A. HAW- THORNE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented an. Improvement in Electric Switches, of

which the following description, in connecan electric switch of the having a base 9, which may be formed of any f appropriate insulating material, such for ex- :cureci. to the base, and with a set of contacts of which are preferably arranged about a tion withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawingrrepres'enting like parts. 7

his invention relates to electric switches, and more especially to switches of themtary snap type. While the switch is capable of general application, it is particularly useful system for vehicles, and when so used is capable of controlling a head-light, a pilotlight, and a tail-light, in such a manner that in one position of the switch, the headlight only is lighted, in a second position, the head-light and tail-light are lighted, and in a third position, the pilot and taillights are lighted, while in a fourth position, all of the lights are shut off.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following specification,

when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one illustrative embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawin Figure 1 is an 5 the casing and handle removed;

Fig. 2 IS a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1, but with the handle and casing in place;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 33 of Fi 2; i

FigAisadetail sectional view on line 44 of Flg. 1;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, are dia ams illustrating the switch in its four di erent positions, and the arrangement of the circuits which it controls.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of 'my invention which I have selected for illustration, I have there shown rotary snap type,

ample as porcelain.

his base supports terminals 10, 11, 12 and 13, appropriately seprovided respectively 14, 15, 16 and 17. all

, center in one plane.

in controlling lamps of a lighting evation of the switch, with i .19 and 20 are in circuit These contacts may be otherwise appropriately arranged, but herein the contacts 14 and 17 are disposed on centers approximately 90 degrees apart, and the contacts 1 1 and 15 are disposed on centers approximately 90 degrees apart, while the contact 16 is disposed on centers substantially less than 90 degrees from the adjacent contact 15. i

The terminal 10 will be referred to as the line terminal since it is intended to be directlyconnected by a wire to a battery 18, illustrated conventionally in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, while the terminals 11, 12 and 13, are connected respectively by wires to lamps 19, 20 and 21. The other terminals of these lamps may be connected by any appropriate means to the remaining terminal of the battery, but herein they are connected to a metallic ground 22, which may be the frame of a vehicle, and this in turn is connected to the battery.

The switch may be provided with a set of contacts comprising one or more contact plates, but is herein provided with a pair of superposed contact plates 23, each provided with a contact consisting of a small segment 2-1, and two other contacts in the form of a relatively larger segment 25, by means of which the terminal may be connected in the various relations already referred to. The segments of the upper and lower contact members are arranged to contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the contacts 14, 15, 16 and 17, in a manner similar to many snap switches now in use. tact plates 23 are placed in the position shown in Fig. 5, they are out of contact with the contact 14 of the terminal 10, and hence none of the lamps is in circuit with the battery. This is the initial position of the contact members. In the-second position of the contact members, that which is shown. in Fig. 6, the terminal 10 is connected with the terminal 13, and the lam 21 is in circuit with the battery. In the third position, that which is shown in Fig. 7, the contact members connect the terminal 10 with the terminals 11 and 13, and the lamps 19 and 21 are in circuit with the battery. In the fourth position, that which is shown in Fig. 8, the contact members connect the terminal 10 with the terminals 11 and 12, and the lamps with the battery.

here the switch is used for controlling the lamps of the lighting system of a vehicle, the lamp 19 may be the tail'light, the

When the contions are greatly simplified.

- of lugs 31 on Thecontact plates 23 may be actuated by any other appropriate mechanism, but I have herein chosen to illustrate a switch mechanism of common form, comprising an operating spindle 26 carrying an eccentric 27, the latter being encircled by an eccentric strap 28, having an arm 29 provided with a lug or tooth 3O projecting toward the base 9. The arm 29 is interposed between a pair a carrier 32 loosely mounted on the spindle 26. A helical spring 33, encircling the spindle 26, is secured at one end to the carrier 32 and at its other end to acollar 34, non-'rotatably mounted on the spindle. This collar is provided with a series of notches .35 to receive the end of the spring and permit the latter to be adjusted and placed under an initial tension. This initial tension of the spring normally holds the tooth or lug- 30 against one of a plurality of teeth.36 of a ratchet 37 fixed to the base 9. The number ofteeth of the ratchet corresponds to the number of positions of the switch, which in the present instance is four. The operating spindle is herein provided as usual with a knurled handle 38, by means of which the spindle may be turned to operate the switch. A bushing 39, provided at its upper end with' an annular flange 40, extends through the base 9, and is provided on the outer face of the latter with a nut 41, by means of which it is secured in place. A washer 42, secured to the lower end of the operating spindle 26 bears against the lower end of the bushing 39, and prevents endwise movement of the spindle. The switch may be provided as usual with a casing 46.

The operation of the switch mechanism is as follows:

When the operating spindle is turned clockwise (Figsrl and 3), the tension of the spring is thereby increased, and simultaneously, the eccentric 27 acts to vpush the tooth 30 of the eccentric strap 28 radially outward until it disengages from the tooth 36 of the ratchet 37 with which it is engaged, whereupon the spring causes the carrier 32 and eccentric strap 28 to rotate until the tooth of the eccentric strap brings up against the next tooth of the ratchet. By this means, the carrier is caused to snap from one position to another in a familiar manner, which will be readily understood of the switch ter- 'of approximately 90 degrees to each step,

and by this means, the contact plates are carried from the initial position illustrated in Fig. 5 to the position shown-in Fig.6, then to the position shown in Fig. 7 and finally to the position shown in Fig. 8, thus causing current to be supplied to the lamps in the order already described. A quarter turn from the position shown in Fig. 8 brings the contactmembers back to the initial position shown in Fig. 5. It will thus be seen that the control of the lamps is effected by the-use of a minimum number of terminals and contactmembers, the number being considerably reduced as compared with switches heretofore employed for the control of lights in the described manner.

While I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incidental to one specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere 100 details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment herein shown, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made, without departing from the principles thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by" Letters Patent to se cure is 1. In an electric switch, the combination of four stationary contacts disposed about an axis, three contacts being spaced on centers at substantially equal distances apart and the fourth being spaced from the nearest contact a distance on centers of less than the space between any two of said three contacts, and a switch element mounted to turn about said axis and having a segmental contact whose length circumferentially is less than the space between any t'woof said three sta- 12 tionary contacts and having another segmental contact whose length circumferentially is greater than the space between any two of said three stationary contacts.

2. In an electric switch, he combination 12 of four stationary contacts disposed about an axis, three contacts having their centers disposed on centers substantially ninety degrees apart. and the fourth being disposed from the nearest contact a distance on centers of substantially less than ninety degrees,

and a switch element mounted to turn about said axis and havin a segmental contact whose length circumirentially is less than the space between any two of said three stationary contacts and havin another segmental contact whose length circumferentially is greater than the space between any two of said three stationary contacts.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of a set of contacts a plurality of which are spaced on centers equal angular distances apart and the remaining contact being spaced a less angular distance from the nearest contact; another set of contacts electrically oonnected with each other and two of which are spaced 011 centers the first-mentioned angular distance apart and the third the same angular distance from the nearest contact; and mechanism for producin a step-by-step rotative movement to one of said sets rela-. tively to the other to cause them to cooperate, step having an angular distance equal to the first-mentioned angular distance.

4:. In an electric switch, the combination of a set of four contacts three of which are spaced on centers ninety degrees apart and the fourth being spaced less than ninety degrees from the nearest contact a set of three contacts electrically connected with each other, and two of which are spaced on centers ninety degrees apart and the third ninety degrees from the nearest contact; and mechanism for producing a step-by-step rotative movement of ninety degrees to each step to one of said sets relatively to the other to cause them to cooperate. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELLSWORTH A. HAWTHORNE. Witnesses:

E. HORACE HAWTHORNE, MABE'LLE K. PEDERSEN. 

